i think we are close. i think it hangs on the wr though. i am not overly concerned about the big hole left by AH. our defense is going to be very good this year. it all rides on washington, britt, gage. if they show up and play then we will be a very dangerous team.

I realize that AH is a force to be reckoned with, but why do some still insist that we will be a worse team with out him?

We picked up a lot of decent offensive talent this off season via the draft and free agency.

We may have not have a AH on the D-line anymore, but Washburn usually puts a quality D-line on the field each year.

Are we ready for the Super Bowl? I think were a better team (on paper) this year than last. It's hard to say with our schedule what record we will have by seasons end, but nonetheless, I think were more capable to get to and win the Super Bowl this year.

If we blow it this year, then that's another story. We'd probably have to wait another 5 years before a team this good is on the field again.

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We will be a worse team this year on the d line without Big Al. That doesn't mean that we won't have a good d-line, and that doesn't mean that we won't have a good team. However, our d-line was great last year, and a huge part of that was Al. None of our replacement players are capable of his level of disruption. Our secondary all went to the probowl in large part because of the problems he caused for opposing offenses. He made everyone else's jobs easier. I'm not saying that we don't have a great defense, but all of the other starters will feel his absence this season. We just have to hope that they can make up for it.

I don't worry about our team with the loss of Big Al, in fact, I'm feeling good and excited for the season. However, we should recognize that we can't be as good as we were last season on the d-line. We just have to see how much that will effect the team as a whole.

We will be a worse team this year on the d line without Big Al. That doesn't mean that we won't have a good d-line, and that doesn't mean that we won't have a good team. However, our d-line was great last year, and a huge part of that was Al. None of our replacement players are capable of his level of disruption. Our secondary all went to the probowl in large part because of the problems he caused for opposing offenses. He made everyone else's jobs easier. I'm not saying that we don't have a great defense, but all of the other starters will feel his absence this season. We just have to hope that they can make up for it.

I don't worry about our team with the loss of Big Al, in fact, I'm feeling good and excited for the season. However, we should recognize that we can't be as good as we were last season on the d-line. We just have to see how much that will effect the team as a whole.

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You're absolutely right. In fact think we should consider ourselves lucky to have had him this last season. I'm just not so sure that he would have been the same '08 AH, even if we had resigned him. IMO, he is more driven by a fat pay check than being a part of a winning team. We all know the Redskins aren't going to get the '08 AH, and I don't believe he is going to be what puts them over the slump they've been in either.

I'm hoping that our defense plays with a chip on their shoulder this season as to show that they can still be dominate with out him.

I totally agree with that. I didn't really want to keep him, because we got him at his best and I don't think he would have kept playing at that level. We do have to realize that he won't just be replaced though. I'm just hoping that we adjust well.

I don't know of there is a hungier team in the league than this one. A lot of guys in contract years, vets looking for that ring and guys pissed because of what happened last year.

We have plenty of vet leadership and a boatload of good athletes and players. I don't see our pass rush hurting any at all without AH. Ask bengay about that and we added two fast quick guys inside who can pressure the QB. The big issue obviously is the run defense.

Look at how many athletic impact players we have who can make a difference in a game. Guys like CJ, finny, griffin are obvious but a lighter quicker lendale could have a big game that makes the difference for us.

Certainly britt, cook and washington are more capable of making big plays than jmac, b jones and crumpler.

On defense we have several players who probably won't start that can make a huge impact in a game. Ford, fuller, marks, hovan or jones. And what about william hayes a 270 lb guy with 4.68 speed? You don't think he is capable of laying a 2-3 sack game on somebody?

I don't know if we have ever had this many guys who are capable of making impact plays in a game even in 2000.

On defense and offense we are going after people with our speed and expect a more aggressive defense.

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